Honorary Professor John Upham
Honorary Professor

John Upham

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Background

John Upham is a clinical scientist and physician with longstanding research interests in the immunological basis of asthma and chronic lung disease, the role of dendritic cells in allergy and virus infections of the lung, and the development of novel approaches to severe asthma treatment.

John is highly influential in his field, with > 195 publications, > 5,400 citations and an H index of 46. Since 2009, he has 112 publications (1st/senior author on 45%) with a Field-Weighted Citation Impact of 2.03. Moreover, 21.5% of publications are in the top 10% of most-cited publications worldwide (field-weighted). His publications have been cited in >20 different subject areas, demonstrating translation to fields other than Medicine. His research has international reach with citations in 80 countries (Scopus Dec 2018).

In the last 10 years, he has secured over $24 million in research funding. John has been awarded 8 NHMRC Project grants (4 as CIA in the last 5 years), 2 NHMRC CRE (“Closing the gap in Indigenous Lung Health” and “Severe Asthma”), and 1 NHMRC Development Grant. He currently holds NHMRC grants of $7.5 million, including $2.96 million as CIA. John was regularly an invited (9x), plenary (3x) and Chair (9x) at national and international conferences in the last 5 years. In recognition of his international standing and influence in the field, he was elected Fellow of the American Academy of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (2004) and the Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (2015).

Availability

Honorary Professor John Upham is:
Available for supervision
Media expert

Fields of research

Biomedical and Clinical Sciences Cardiovascular medicine and haematology Clinical sciences Immunology Respiratory diseases

Qualifications

  • Doctor of Philosophy, University of Western Australia

Research interests

  • Immune function and susceptibility to virus infections in asthma and COPD

  • Plasmacytoid dendritic cells

    Type I interferon production Immune regulation

  • Severe asthma: towards evidence-based assessment and management

  • Innate immunity and bacterial infections of the lungs

    Bronchiectasis and chronic suppurative lung disease in children Lung health in Indigenous children

  • Allergy and immune tolerance

Research impacts

John is currently the President (2021-22) of the Thoracic Society of Australia and Zealand and is a key member of the NHMRC funded Centre of Research Excellence (CRE) in Asthma Treatable Traits. He has played a leadership role in organising and co-chairing three recent national symposia on severe asthma to facilitate research collaboration, build research and clinical capacity, and improve models of care for severe asthma. He has been a member of multiple advisory boards to pharmaceutical companies, both international and national (AstraZeneca, GSK, Novartis, Nycomed, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Mundipharma, Menarini), and has provided advice to the Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee. His research has provided new treatment options for severe asthma, and guided the appropriate length of antibiotic treatment for Indigenous children with pneumonia, protracted bacterial bronchitis and bronchiectasis. John's research will inform best use of influenza vaccination in COPD, and guide the use of conjugate vaccines to improve immunity to Haemophilus in Indigenous children. He contributed to Clinical Practice Guidelines for the use of omalizumab and mepolizumab in Australia and he was part of the working group that prepared a web-based Severe Asthma Toolkit for the Severe Asthma CRE.

Search Professor John Upham’s works on UQ eSpace

381 works between 1983 and 2025
All (381) Journal Article (234) Book Chapter (5) Conference Publication (142)

121 - 140 of 381 works

2017

Journal Article

Utilisation of nicotine replacement therapy within hospital pharmacist initiated smoking-cessation intervention - a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

Gupta, D., Winckel, K., Burrows, J., Ross, J. and Upham, J. W. (2017). Utilisation of nicotine replacement therapy within hospital pharmacist initiated smoking-cessation intervention - a pragmatic randomised controlled trial. Journal of Smoking Cessation, 12 (1), 1-10. doi: 10.1017/jsc.2015.14

Utilisation of nicotine replacement therapy within hospital pharmacist initiated smoking-cessation intervention - a pragmatic randomised controlled trial

2017

Journal Article

Cytokine responses to two common respiratory pathogens in children are dependent on interleukin-1β

Chen, Alice C.-H., Xi, Yang, Carroll, Melanie, Petsky, Helen L., Gardiner, Samantha J., Pizzutto, Susan J., Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Baines, Katherine J., Gibson, Peter G., Hodge, Sandra, Masters, Ian B., Buntain, Helen M., Chang, Anne B. and Upham, John W. (2017). Cytokine responses to two common respiratory pathogens in children are dependent on interleukin-1β. ERJ Open Research, 3 (4) 00025-2017, 00025-2017. doi: 10.1183/23120541.00025-2017

Cytokine responses to two common respiratory pathogens in children are dependent on interleukin-1β

2017

Conference Publication

Sputum IL-1 beta is reduced with Azithromycin add-on therapy in patients with poorly controlled asthma

Simpson, Jodie, Powell, Heather, Pabreja, Kavita, Yang, Ian, Upham, John, Reynolds, Paul, Hodge, Sandra, James, Alan, Jenkins, Christine, Peters, Matthew, Marks, Guy, Gibson, Peter and Baraket, Melissa (2017). Sputum IL-1 beta is reduced with Azithromycin add-on therapy in patients with poorly controlled asthma. European-Respiratory-Society (ERS) International Congress, Milan Italy, Sep 09-13, 2017. SHEFFIELD: EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY SOC JOURNALS LTD. doi: 10.1183/1393003.congress-2017.PA4029

Sputum IL-1 beta is reduced with Azithromycin add-on therapy in patients with poorly controlled asthma

2017

Journal Article

Effect of azithromycin on asthma exacerbations and quality of life in adults with persistent uncontrolled asthma (AMAZES): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

Gibson, Peter G., Yang, Ian A., Upham, John W., Reynolds, Paul N., Hodge, Sandra, James, Alan L., Jenkins, Christine, Peters, Matthew J., Marks, Guy B., Baraket, Melissa, Powell, Heather, Taylor, Steven L., Leong, Lex E. X., Rogers, Geraint B. and Simpson, Jodie L. (2017). Effect of azithromycin on asthma exacerbations and quality of life in adults with persistent uncontrolled asthma (AMAZES): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. The Lancet, 390 (10095), 659-668. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(17)31281-3

Effect of azithromycin on asthma exacerbations and quality of life in adults with persistent uncontrolled asthma (AMAZES): a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial

2017

Journal Article

Management of hypoxaemic respiratory failure in a Respiratory High-dependency Unit

Hukins, Craig, Wong, Mimi, Murphy, Michelle and Upham, John (2017). Management of hypoxaemic respiratory failure in a Respiratory High-dependency Unit. Internal Medicine Journal, 47 (7), 784-792. doi: 10.1111/imj.13403

Management of hypoxaemic respiratory failure in a Respiratory High-dependency Unit

2017

Journal Article

Bronchiectasis in children: current concepts in immunology and microbiology

Pizzutto, Susan J., Hare, Kim M. and Upham, John W. (2017). Bronchiectasis in children: current concepts in immunology and microbiology. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 5 123, 123. doi: 10.3389/fped.2017.00123

Bronchiectasis in children: current concepts in immunology and microbiology

2017

Journal Article

Inflammatory phenotypes in patients with severe asthma are associated with distinct airway microbiology

Taylor, Steven L., Leong, Lex E. X., Choo, Jocelyn M., Wesselingh, Steve, Yang, Ian A., Upham, John W., Reynolds, Paul N., Hodge, Sandra, James, Alan L., Jenkins, Christine, Peters, Matthew J., Baraket, Melissa, Marks, Guy B., Gibson, Peter G., Simpson, Jodie L. and Rogers, Geraint B. (2017). Inflammatory phenotypes in patients with severe asthma are associated with distinct airway microbiology. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 141 (1), 94-103.e15. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2017.03.044

Inflammatory phenotypes in patients with severe asthma are associated with distinct airway microbiology

2017

Journal Article

Response

Wurzel, Danielle F., Marchant, Julie M., Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Upham, John W. and Chang, Anne B. (2017). Response. Chest, 151 (4), 940-941. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.12.030

Response

2017

Journal Article

Can biomarkers help us hit targets in difficult-to-treat asthma?

Fricker, Michael, Heaney, Liam G. and Upham, John W. (2017). Can biomarkers help us hit targets in difficult-to-treat asthma?. Respirology, 22 (3), 430-442. doi: 10.1111/resp.13014

Can biomarkers help us hit targets in difficult-to-treat asthma?

2017

Journal Article

Dendritic cells in human lung disease: recent advances

Upham, John W. and Xi, Yang (2017). Dendritic cells in human lung disease: recent advances. Chest, 151 (3), 668-673. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.09.030

Dendritic cells in human lung disease: recent advances

2017

Conference Publication

An Analysis of the Effect of Azithromycin in Persistent Asthma, Based On Pre-Specified Asthma Phenotypes

Powell, Heather, Simpson, Jodie L., Yang, Ian A., Upham, John W., Reynolds, Paul N., Hodge, Sandra, James, Alan L., Jenkins, Christine, Peters, Matthew J., Baraket, Melissa, Marks, Guy B. and Gibson, Peter G. (2017). An Analysis of the Effect of Azithromycin in Persistent Asthma, Based On Pre-Specified Asthma Phenotypes. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

An Analysis of the Effect of Azithromycin in Persistent Asthma, Based On Pre-Specified Asthma Phenotypes

2017

Journal Article

RAGE deficiency predisposes mice to virus-induced paucigranulocytic asthma

Arikkatt, Jaisy, Ullah, Md Ashik, Short, Kirsty Renfree, Zhang, Vivian, Gan, Wan Jun, Loh, Zhixuan, Werder, Rhiannon B., Simpson, Jennifer, Sly, Peter D., Mazzone, Stuart B., Spann, Kirsten M., Ferreira, Manuel A R., Upham, John W., Sukkar, Maria B. and Phipps, Simon (2017). RAGE deficiency predisposes mice to virus-induced paucigranulocytic asthma. eLife, 6 e21199. doi: 10.7554/eLife.21199

RAGE deficiency predisposes mice to virus-induced paucigranulocytic asthma

2017

Conference Publication

Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations in Adults with Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma

Gibson, Peter G., Yang, Ian A., Upham, John W., Reynolds, Paul N., Hodge, Sandra, James, Alan L., Jenkins, Christine, Peters, Matthew J., Marks, Guy B., Baraket, Melissa, Powell, Heather and Simpson, Jodie L. (2017). Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations in Adults with Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma. HOBOKEN: WILEY.

Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations in Adults with Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma

2017

Conference Publication

Determinants of Rhinovirus and Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production in a Large Cohort

Murray, Liisa, Xi, Yang, Revez, Joana A., Ferreira, Manuel A. and Upham, John W. (2017). Determinants of Rhinovirus and Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production in a Large Cohort. The Australia & New Zealand Society of Respiratory Science and The Thoracic Society of Australia and New Zealand (ANZSRS/TSANZ) Annual Scientific Meeting, Canberra, Australia, 24–28 March 2017. Richmond, VIC Australia: Wiley.

Determinants of Rhinovirus and Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production in a Large Cohort

2017

Conference Publication

IL-33 augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in asthma via selective upregulation of one chain of the IL-33 receptor

Upham, John, Jurak, Lisa and Xi, Yang (2017). IL-33 augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in asthma via selective upregulation of one chain of the IL-33 receptor. ERS International Congress 2017, Milan, Italy, 9-13 September 2017. Lausanne, Switzerland: European Respiratory Society. doi: 10.1183/1393003.congress-2017.pa567

IL-33 augments rhinovirus-induced type 2 immune responses in asthma via selective upregulation of one chain of the IL-33 receptor

2017

Conference Publication

Determinants Of Rhinovirus And Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production In A Large Group Of Healthy And Asthmatic Individuals

Upham, J. W., Murray, L., Xi, Y., Revez, J. and Ferreira, M. (2017). Determinants Of Rhinovirus And Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production In A Large Group Of Healthy And Asthmatic Individuals. International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Washington Afghanistan, 19-24 May 2017. New York, NY United States: American Thoracic Society.

Determinants Of Rhinovirus And Nucleic Acid Induced Cytokine Production In A Large Group Of Healthy And Asthmatic Individuals

2017

Conference Publication

Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations In Adults With Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma

Gibson, P. G., Yang, I. A., Upham, J. W., Reynolds, P. N., Hodge, S., James, A. L., Jenkins, C., Peters, M., Marks, G. B., Baraket, M., Simpson, J. L. and Powell, H. (2017). Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations In Adults With Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma. International Conference of the American-Thoracic-Society (ATS), Washington Dc, May 19-24, 2017. NEW YORK: AMER THORACIC SOC.

Azithromycin Reduces Exacerbations In Adults With Persistent Symptomatic Eosinophilic Asthma

2016

Journal Article

Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2015: the Influenza Complications Alert Network

Cheng, Allen C., Holmes, Mark, Dwyer, Dominic E., Irving, Louis B., Korman, Tony M., Senenayake, Sanjaya, Macartney, Kristine K., Blyth, Christopher C., Brown, Simon, Waterer, Grant, Hewer, Robert, Friedman, N Deborah, Wark, Peter A., Simpson, Graham, Upham, John, Bowler, Simon D., Lessing, Albert, Kotsimbos, Tom and Kelly, Paul M. (2016). Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2015: the Influenza Complications Alert Network. Communicable Diseases Intelligence Quarterly Report, 40 (4), E521-E526. doi: 10.33321/cdi.2016.40.59

Influenza epidemiology in patients admitted to sentinel Australian hospitals in 2015: the Influenza Complications Alert Network

2016

Journal Article

Protracted bacterial bronchitis in children: natural history and risk factors for bronchiectasis

Wurzel, Danielle F., Marchant, Julie M., Yerkovich, Stephanie T., Upham, John W., Petsky, Helen L., Smith-Vaughan, Heidi, Masters, Brent, Buntain, Helen and Chang, Anne B. (2016). Protracted bacterial bronchitis in children: natural history and risk factors for bronchiectasis. Chest, 150 (5), 1101-1108. doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2016.06.030

Protracted bacterial bronchitis in children: natural history and risk factors for bronchiectasis

2016

Journal Article

Aeroallergen-induced IL-33 predisposes to respiratory virus–induced asthma by dampening antiviral immunity

Lynch, Jason P., Werder, Rhiannon B., Simpson, Jennifer, Loh, Zhixuan, Zhang, Vivian, Haque, Ashraful, Spann, Kirsten, Sly, Peter D., Mazzone, Stuart B., Upham, John W. and Phipps, Simon (2016). Aeroallergen-induced IL-33 predisposes to respiratory virus–induced asthma by dampening antiviral immunity. Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology, 138 (5), 1326-1337. doi: 10.1016/j.jaci.2016.02.039

Aeroallergen-induced IL-33 predisposes to respiratory virus–induced asthma by dampening antiviral immunity

Current funding

  • 2023 - 2028
    Minimising Oral Corticosteroid use in Asthma using Treatable Traits (2021 MRFF Chronic Respiratory Conditions grant Administering Institution University of Newcastle)
    University of Newcastle
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2025
    Centre of Research Excellence in Asthma Treatable Traits (CREATT) (administered by University of Newcastle)
    University of Newcastle
    Open grant

Past funding

  • 2021 - 2024
    Diagnostic utility of tests of latent tuberculosis in immune compromised contacts exposed to multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (2021 Metro South SERTA Novice Researcher Grant administered by MSHHS)
    Metro South Hospital and Health Service
    Open grant
  • 2020 - 2021
    Reducing acute severe respiratory events in health care workers during the Covid-19 pandemic with OM85
    NHMRC MRFF Coronavirus Research Response
    Open grant
  • 2018 - 2022
    Understanding how azithromycin prevents exacerbations in severe asthma
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Anti-viral immune dysfunction in severe asthma varies across inflammatory phenotypes
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2017 - 2020
    Multicentre randomised controlled trial on duration of antibiotics for children with chronic wet cough - (Children's Hospital Foundation grant administered by QUT)
    Queensland University of Technology
    Open grant
  • 2016
    Abberant immune responses to viruses in severe asthma: what role does IL-33 play? (Seed Grant awarded by NHMRC CCRE in Severe Asthma APP1078579 administered by the University of Newcastle)
    University of Newcastle
    Open grant
  • 2016 - 2022
    A multi-centre double-blind RCT on community-acquired pneumonia in Indigenous children and a developing country (NHMRC Project Grant administered by Menzies School of Health Research)
    Menzies School of Health Research
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Improving asthma through lifestyle interventions: how much exercise is best?
    Asthma Australia Incorporated
    Open grant
  • 2015 - 2019
    Using influenza vaccination to understand and improve anti-viral immunity in COPD
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2014 - 2020
    National Clinical Centre of Research Excellence in Severe Asthma (NHMRC CRE administered by the University of Newcastle)
    University of Newcastle
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2015
    Anti-viral immunity in asthma: a detailed assessment of TLR7 function and the regulation of interferon a/B synthesis
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2013 - 2016
    Protracted bacterial bronchitis: long term outcomes, systemic and airway predictors of recurrence (NHMRC Project Grant administered by Menzies)
    The Menzies Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2017
    Centre of Research Excellence in Lung Health of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Children (NHMRC CRE administered by Menzies School of Health Research)
    Menzies School of Health Research
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2015
    Defective toll-like receptor 7 signalling in plasmacytoid dendritic cells underlies the inception of virus-associated asthma
    NHMRC Project Grant
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Influenza vaccination and asthma
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2012
    Microbial immunity in a large population of adult asthmatics with suboptimal disease control
    PA Research Foundation Private Practice Trust Fund Research Support Grants
    Open grant
  • 2012 - 2013
    The airway epithelium in paediatric respiratory diseases
    UWA-UQ Bilateral Research Collaboration Award
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Allergic sensitization to grass pollens in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma in subtropical regions of Australia (Year 2)
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2011
    Understanding immune responses to influenza vaccination in people with asthma
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2011
    Development of the major Bahia grass pollen allergen, Pas n 1, as an immunodiagnostic test for subtropical grass pollen allergy
    UQ FirstLink Scheme
    Open grant
  • 2010 - 2012
    Protracted bacterial bronchitis in children: what is the natural history and role of innate immunity dysfunction?
    Financial Markets Foundation for Children
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Allergic sensitization to grass pollens in patients with allergic rhinitis and asthma in subtropical regions of Australia
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2010
    Allergy to subtropical grass pollens in Australia: IgE cross-reactivity between subtropical and temperate grass pollens
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Antiviral innate immunity in asthma: why are some people with asthma susceptible to virus infections?
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2009
    Prevention of allergic asthma through induction of tolerance in allergen-sensitised T cells
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2009 - 2015
    The AMAZES Study: Asthma and Macrolides: the AZithromycin Efficacy and Safety study (NHMRC Project Grant administered by University of Newcastle)
    University of Newcastle
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2010
    Anti-viral immunity in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
    Princess Alexandra Hospital R&D Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2008
    Antiviral innate immunity in asthma: why are some people with asthma susceptible to virus infections?
    Asthma Foundation of Queensland
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2012
    NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship
    NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2008 - 2009
    Protracted bronchitis in children: what is the natural history and role of innate immunity dysfunction?
    Royal Children's Hospital Foundation
    Open grant
  • 2007
    NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship
    NHMRC Practitioner Fellowship
    Open grant
  • 2007 - 2011
    Developmental aspects of respiratory inflammation, allergy and asthma (UWA_lead institution)
    University of Western Australia
    Open grant

Availability

Honorary Professor John Upham is:
Available for supervision

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Available projects

  • Immune dysregulation in asthma and host defence against respiratory viruses

    Our program of translational research is focussed on the study of immune function and dysfunction in asthma, and host defence against respiratory viruses, especially human rhinoviruses. We are interested in the mechanisms leading to excessive airway inflammation in asthma, and why people with asthma are unusually susceptible to asthma attacks during respiratory viral infections. Our aim is to discover new therapeutic targets in severe asthma.

    Research Projects

    • The function of key immune cells such as antigen presenting cells and NK cells
    • The role of polarizing cytokines such as IL-33, IL-25 and TSLP in altering host defence against viruses.
    • How macrolide antibiotics alter immune function

Supervision history

Current supervision

Completed supervision

Enquiries

Contact Honorary Professor John Upham directly for media enquiries about:

  • Allergies
  • Asthma
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
  • Dendritic cells
  • Immunity
  • Lung infections
  • Lungs - virus infections
  • Virus infections of the lung

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